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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
This act of terrorism started a chain reaction that led to World War I. -
Austria Declares War
The day that World War I began. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
The Schlieffen Plan
European nations take sides. On one side there was Germany and Austria-Hungary (Central Powers). On the other side there was Great Britain, France, and Russia (allies). -
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Developments on the Eastern Front
As the summer of 1914 turned to fall, Germany's lightning quick strinke instead turned into a long and bloody stalemate, or deadlock, along the battle fields of France. -
First battle of the Marne
Northeast of Paris, in the valley of the Marne River. The allied powers attack the German Army. This was the first battle where Trench Warfare was used. -
Gallipoli Campaign
It was known as the Gallipoli campaign. British, australian, New Zealand, and French troops made repeated assaults on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the western side of the strait. -
Battle of Verdun
Using their new weaponry such as poison gas, machine guns, and tanks, a world wide killing spree was occuring. The killings reached their peak in 1916. In February, Germany attacked France near Verdun. This attack led to the Battle of Somme. -
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British attack Germans at Verdun
In July of 1916, the British army tried to relieve the pressure on the French.British forces attacked the Germans northwest of Verdun, in the valley of the Somme River. -
Unrestricted submarine warfare
The Germans announced that their submarines would ink without warning any ship in the waters around Britain. This was a retaliation to the blockade by the British. After this happened, the Germnas put up their own naval Blockade. -
Russia Withdraws From the War
Czar Nicholas leaves the throne on March 15, not wanting to deal with a possible revolution. In his place there is a provisional government who wants to continue fighting in the war. But by 1917 over 5 million soldiers had been wounded or killed, and they refused to continue fighting. -
President Wilson declares War
Germany's foreign secratary, Author Zimmerman, sent a note to Mexico, saying that if Mexico joined the Axis with Germany, then Germany would help Mexico reconquer the land they lost to America. This was the last straw for President Wilson. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Comes to Power
Vladimir Lenin came to power after Czar Nicholas stepped down in march. Lenin wanted to end the war and he offered a truce with Germany. In March, Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. -
The Second Battle of Marne
The Allies and Central powers battled at the Second Battle of Marne in July, 1918. The Allied forces had the upper hand and gained land on the Germans. Both the Bulgarian's and the Ottoman Turks surrenderd, and a revolt in Austria-Hungary ended that empire. German soldiers mutinied and turned on Kaiser. -
World War I ends.
Only two days after Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down and German declared itself a republic, an armistice was siged. Marshal Foch and a representitive of the German government met in a railway car in Paris, and the war was officially over. -
Treaty of Versailles
On June 28, 1919 (exactly five years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand), the Treaty of Versailles was signed by the Germans, closing World War I. Although the treaty was signed, Germany was subjected to many harsh punishments and restrictions in the future.